NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tyson "Brutes" Barrie is back where he wants to be — on the back end. The young Avalanche defenseman, who has picked up a new nickname from his teammates, will end his two-game stint at forward in Tuesday night's game against the Nashville Predators.

"It was an experience. It was fun, and nice to know they trusted me," Barrie said Tuesday after the morning skate at Bridgestone Arena. "But it's nice to get to back to the back end, where I'm more comfortable and where I want to be."

Barrie is not comfortable with his new nickname. "Brutes" stems from jokingly requesting to be called "Team Beauty," and he often says "brutes" instead of "brutal," according to Avs rookie Nathan MacKinnon.

"I guess you can't choose your own nickname," Barrie said.

To accommodate Barrie's move back to defenseman, Nate Guenin will be scratched, coach Patrick Roy said. Defenseman Ryan Wilson, who has been in Roy's doghouse most of the year, will also sit out.

Roy said he wants to try to roll his four lines against the Predators, who aren't as deep up front as the Avs. "When we played Boston ( on Friday in a 2-0 loss) I thought Boston had four really good lines and we want to have four good lines as well," Roy said. "I'm not saying Nashville doesn't have four good lines but we just felt it's time for Tyson to go back to defense and we have to give ice time to (Paul) Carey and see what he can do for us."

Carey will get his fourth-career NHL game in the Avs' 72nd game of the season, and it will make the first time Colorado-raised defenseman Seth Jones will be scratched as a pro. Jones, the Predators' prized young defenseman, suffered a concussion Sunday against Chicago and might miss the rest of the season. Nashville has 10 remaining games and is last in the Central Division and third-to-last in the Western Conference.

"It's too bad. He's a good player," Roy said of Jones, the son of former Nuggets player and assistant coach Popeye Jones.

Footnote. Forward John Mitchell did not travel with the Avs and is doubtful to play Thursday against Vancouver, Roy said, but he might return Saturday against San Jose.

Rockies relief pitcher John Axford, who hasn't pitched for the team since last Wednesday, was forced to leave spring training camp after his 2-year-old son was bit by a rattlesnake twice in his right foot.

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